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April's Work in the Garden _i | 
j By John Johnson, Massachusetts 1 
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APRIL heralds the advent of Spring and the 
pronounced activity of growth. This month 
demands a corresponding amount of activity 
and exertion on the part of the gardener. Increasing 
power of the sun's rays, less frequent frosts, showers 
and sunshine now seem mutually ambitious to again 
clad mother earth with a beauteous sheen of bloom and 
verdure. With vegetation greatly accelerated, the 
gardener in his endeavor to help Nature, now finds his 
energies taxed at high pressure. Work in the main 
must be carried on as weather permits and anything 
advised in last month's calendar yet undone must have 
attention forth\\ith, 
LAWNS 
The present is a favorable time for renovating old 
as well as for making new lawns. Old lawns which 
have become patchy through constant weeding, may 
have bare spots re-sodded with sound turf, similar to 
that existent. Imperfections accrue from various 
causes and it is part of the gardener's work to try and 
determine such causes and if possible, apply a remedy. 
Sometimes by incorporating a little fresh compost or 
something of a fertilizing element, before laying the 
sod will insure a good stand of grass. The re-seeding 
of such bare or weedy spots is not always advisable 
since the grass, resultant of the sowing, almost in- 
variabljr produces a still patchy appearance. 
In making new lawns, the trend of the ground and 
the outlook from the residence are primary considera- 
tions of much importance. A perfect level may not 
be necessary or indeed advisable, but evenness of sur- 
face is an absolute necessity before the seed sowing 
is attempted. Lawns can have neither the advantage 
of a change of groimd, nor the benefit of l)ut little 
cultivation after being once made. It is therefore im- 
portant to make provision for the future by sound and 
practical treatment of the soil at the outset. The soil 
of the locality is usually all one commands and under 
ordinary circumstances this can be made productive of 
a fine dense green sward by the addition of suitable 
manures. Good farmyard manure has the double 
propensity of inaking a sandy soil more retentive of 
moisture and of rendering soil of a clayey natiu'e less 
impervious. A point to be regarded is to try and pre- 
serve the same consistency and character of soil 
throughout. Although the ideal may be wanting, it is 
most urgent to obtain a uniform conformation of top 
soil to insure a really good sod. If one part of the 
ground be of a clayey nature, and another part sandy 
loam, the result will be a patchy appearance as soils of 
varying character foster grasses indigenous to them. 
The work of grading arovmd new buildings often re- 
sults in the exposure of some subsoil. 
LTnless this is given a covering of nearby topsoil, 
good results cannot be reasonably expected. Estab- 
lished lawns that were top-dressed with rotted manure 
last Fall should be either harrowed or raked at the 
first opportunity, at the same time removing anything 
of an undesirable nature. This should be followed by a 
heavy rolling to firm the ground which has heaved 
during hard frosts. Where objection is made to the 
autuinn application of farmyard manure, on account 
cf the weed seeds it contains or because of its un- 
sightly appearance, a light dressing of an approved 
artificial fertilizer may be now applied, and this re- 
peated a little later in the season. Grass well nourish- 
ed withstands drought far better than that which is 
growing on impoverished ground. 
Contiguous with the subject of these remarks are 
the lawn mowers. Have these been overhauled dur- 
ing the winter months, or were they stored away last 
autumn and forgotten thus far? Take advantage of 
the first rainy day to have them sharpened and put 
into working order. It is bad policy to be doing this 
when the grass needs cutting. 
ROTATION (IF CROPS 
The subject of rotation in cropping the vegetable 
garden is worthy the attention of all who aspire to 
the best results since it is known to directly affect the 
natural relations of plant and soil as to their chemical 
constituent. Crops should be organized as far as pos- 
sible that plants of the same natural order never im- 
mediately succeed one another. It is good practice 
when possible, to alternate top-rooted crops with, 
those of a surface rooting character. Plots which last 
year carried celery could be planted to peas this sea- 
son with very little preparation further than leveling- 
the ground. The pea crop being cleared fairly early 
in summer, the same ground after liberal manuring- 
would be in condition to receive late brassicas which 
would include Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, 
etc. Similarly, the plot on which early potatoes are 
planted this Spring might subsequently be turned to 
good account b}' making a new plantation of straw- 
berries. 
To further deinonstrate, we might consider the 
vegetable garden as divided into four parts, one plot 
being devoted to permanent crops, such as Asparagus, 
Rhubarb, bush fruits, etc. On the other three plots 
the crops could rotate on a three course basis in somffe- 
thing of this order : 
No. 1. — Potatoes, Celery, Carrots, Parsnips, Salsify" 
and Leeks. No. 2. — Peas, Beans, Turnips, Eggplant. 
Pepper, Sweet Corn, and Okra. No. 3. — The brassi- 
cas, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Melon and Squash. In the 
succeeding year No. 1 would be cropped as No. 2 and 
No. 2 and No. 3 and so on through future years. 
If not already done, the winter mulch of manure 
may now be removed from the Asparagus plot, or if 
well decayed much of it can be carefully^ worked into 
the soil between the rows. As the work proceeds 
avoid injury to the root system by forking to the 
depth of but two or three inches near the crowns. If 
an application of salt as a stimulant is contemplated, 
do not apply it too earh^ as it renders the bed cold for 
a time. In giving- stimulants of this kind it is best to 
apply them at intervals of two or three weeks than to 
give a too heavy dose at one time. 
If a new plantation of this much prized esculent is 
to be made this season and trenches were not prepared 
last fall, lose no time in making such preparation. 
Open trenches 6 ft. astmder, selecting a well-drained' 
and sheltered piece of ground. Asparagus responds 
to generous treatment as does no other vegetable, 
therefore make ample provision in this respect before 
109 
